Prescott turns on Cook in tuition row

The cabinet was hit by infighting today as senior ministers locked horns following revelations that Tony Blair's two teenage sons are receiving private tuition from staff at a top public school.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott spoke out against Commons leader Robin Cook in a row about whether the children of leading figures were "fair game" in political mud-slinging.

Mr Cook last week sneered at Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith for "sending his children to Eton" - comments which are believed to have provoked the latest revelations about "top-up" lessons at Downing Street for Euan and Nicky Blair.

Leaping to Mr Blair's defence, Mr Prescott told viewers of BBC1's Question Time that he "deplored" politicians and journalists who brought family members into the political spotlight.

He added: "It doesn't do anything for politics, it undermines the credibility of the politicians, but most of all it hurts those in the family who shouldn't be subjected to that kind of high public pressure."

Asked if that included Mr Cook, who yesterday insisted he would not take back a "single word" of his attack on Mr Duncan Smith, Mr Prescott replied: "Everybody."

He went on: "Robin's made it clear from his circumstances, in the questionsto the Prime Minister, the way that it [his attack on Mr Duncan Smith] came about; it was some argument about barge-poles and comprehensive education and it led to that response. Robin must make his judgment - I've given you mine."

The row raged on about disclosures in the Spectator magazine - not denied by Downing Street - that teachers from Westminster School are visiting Number 10 to give private tuition to Euan, 18, and Nicky, 16, to help them with their exams.

Both boys are pupils at the selective London Oratory School in Fulham, widely regarded as one the best state comprehensives in London. On the BBC programme Tory deputy leader Michael Ancram said he "did not blame" Mr Blair for seeking a private tutor. In the first official comments by the Tory leadership on the affair he said this was "because every parent has not only a right but a duty to do the best for their children".

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis was among the first to launch a bitter attack on Mr Blair following the revelations, calling them a "disgrace", and accusing the Prime Minister and his wife Cherie of "buying privilege".

But he was disowned by his party's deputy leader, Alan Beith, who said: "I agree with John Prescott's judgement and I think we should all take a lesson from the whole of this episode."